Namewise

Mark vs Stephen

Mark and Stephencompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1997, Mark was ranked #62 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1997, Mark was ranked #75 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Mark was ranked #99 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Mark was ranked #169 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Mark was ranked #177 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Mark was ranked #294 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2001, Mark was ranked #509 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.

Mark and Stephen over time

Mark and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 256 years of shared records. Mark held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Stephen in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Mark in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1959, Mark moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #6 and #5 the year before became #3 and #6.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Mark and Stephen changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1950 and 2001, ending at #509 and #522.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Mark and Stephen averaged 11.9 places apart, ending at #62 and #100.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Mark and Stephen were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #294 and #716.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Mark #55 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #55 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #294 and #716.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Mark held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Stephen in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Mark #7 in 1974, Stephen #4 in 1983.

    The order changed in 1998: Mark moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #15 and #14; by 1998 that had become #14 and #17.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mark #99, Stephen #232.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997

    Mark held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Stephen in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Mark #2 in 1960, Stephen #3 in 1955.

    The order changed in 1959: Mark moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #6 and #5; by 1959 that had become #3 and #6.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Mark #62, Stephen #100.

  • Norway · Boys46 shared years, 1950–2001

    Mark held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Stephen in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Mark #211 in 1970, Stephen #210 in 1956.

    The order changed in 1995: Mark moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #427 and #339; by 1995 that had become #347 and #511.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Mark #509, Stephen #522.

  • New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997

    Mark held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Stephen in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Mark #2 in 1974, Stephen #5 in 1958.

    The order changed in 1961: Mark moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #6 and #5; by 1961 that had become #5 and #6.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Mark #75, Stephen #95.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Mark held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stephen in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Mark #55 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Mark #294, Stephen #716.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Mark held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Stephen in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Mark #12 in 1999, Stephen #21 in 1998.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Mark #177, Stephen #305.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Mark

Pairs where Mark shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Stephen

Pairs where Stephen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Mark, Stephen
FieldMarkStephen
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningA form of the Latin name Marcus used in several languages. Saint Mark authored the second Gospel and is patron saint of Venice.From Greek Stephanos, meaning 'crown, wreath' — literally 'that which surrounds'. Saint Stephen, a deacon stoned to death in the New Testament, is regarded as the first Christian martyr.
OriginLatinGreek
Pronunciation/ˈmɑɹk//ˈstiː.vən/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedSteven, Stefan, Stephan
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #99 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Mark is recorded with a Latin origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
  • Mark has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Stephen.
  • Mark's recorded meaning differs from Stephen's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Mark a "medium" Data Confidence level and Stephen a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Mark

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1950

    First recorded at #362 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–2001

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1960 (recorded 1952–2001).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #294 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Stephen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #352 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–1997

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1955 (recorded 1952–1997).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys